Friday, December 30, 2011

As the year is coming to an end I was reading my horoscope this morning (Capricorn) and this is what it said:

QuickieCreative writing doesn't just apply to short stories. Add flair to texts and emails.

OverviewYou need to reach out and connect with someone new today -- your social life is more important than ever. It's a good time to dip into your pool of friends of friends, as they are looking your way.

Really I asked? Then it donned on me, oh I guess it's time to write a blog post so here I am.

The first exciting news I have is to announce is that I will be teaching again at Art Unraveled. I do not plan to have any health issues deter me this year (crossing fingers really tightly)! If you recall last year I had to cancel because of my eye issue. That is thankfully behind me now, finally!

In some of my past posts you'll remember how enamored I became with the eco dye printing technique that India Flint wrote about in her book Eco Colour which started a worldwide frenzy. I have devised a 9 hour class where we will use this technique on silk scarves and a second 3 hour class where we will dye silk ribbons and fabric strips using coffee, tea, and onion skins. Art Unraveled registration is now open so go have a look at the wonderful roster of classes being offered. This is one of my favorite retreats and I am so happy to be part of it again and would love to see many of my friends attend.

Dye Print Samples:

In April I am having some dear friends come visit me to take a private garment construction class in my studio. I am so excited about this but also a little nervous because I'm not sure how I'll combine being focused on teaching when these are close friends and I'll also want to be showing them around and socializing. I'm sure I'll figure it all out but it will be interesting.

Come September I'll be teaching once again at Art Is You Petaluma. This will be only the second year for this event and I think the word of mouth is getting around about what an opportunity this is! Lots of very talented instructors, in the wine country of California (think Sept. crush parties), and you could be there. I'm working very hard on some prototypes for an upcycled garment construction class. This will be completely new but I have a fantastic plan and I can not wait to get these prototypes finished and photographed and complete the write up! Art is You plans to go online with classes and registration in Feb. 2012. You can go to the site now though and see who will be teaching and start making your list of classes so you'll be ready when the registration opens!

After teaching at Art is You I am contemplating traveling to Art & Soul in Portland to vend. However, I will not be teaching. It is so difficult to project so far ahead and plan ones life. Next year already seems so full for me. In March I'll be taking that trip with my husband to New Zealand, the one we canceled because of my eye. April is when my friends come for the workshop, July my hubby and I plan to go to New York, Aug. is Art Unraveled, Sept. is Art is You, so then do I want to commit to going to Portland in Oct.? Do I want to plan to do the St. Louis Weavers' Guild annual show which is also Oct.? I have tentatively agreed to do a workshop in Missouri the first part of Nov. so please someone come organize my schedule for me and tell me what will be best okay? I'm taking volunteers, the lines are open. As my horoscope said ...."It's a good time to dip into your pool of friends"....

Saturday, December 17, 2011

As an artist, a designer, a maker of things it is the part where I flourish. The studio can be such a creative place where the world is shut away from me and I'm focused on designing and creating. But because what I make are things I want to sell and share with those who appreciate them there is the business side. It has taken several days to do a photo shoot, load the photos on the computer, size and format them, choose which ones to use and then decide I need some more close ups and have to shoot more photos and repeat the process.

On Saturday I was fortunate to have my photographer friend Wendy shoot (photos of course) two lovely young models. My sons girlfriend Jillian and her friend Sara showed up at the Trunk Show and the photo shoot was done. It makes such a difference to have garments shown on a person and I am grateful for these friends who rallied to be there for me.

After getting the photos ready comes the part of writing up what the piece is, taking the measurements, describing the color, etc. I finally got some of that done today and was able to post several new items in my Etsy shop. I hope you'll visit and see my new listings.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

I posted this on FB so if you read it there sorry for the repeat but want to share this with everyone. I don't often buy wall art as I live in an Adobe house with lots of windows and very little space to hang any pictures. So it's a big deal that I bought this large piece of art. Of course I didn't hang it in my house but it proudly hangs in my studio. I know this snapshot isn't the best but because of the lighting in my studio I couldn't get a better one in a short amount of time. Just shows how anxious I am to share this artists work!

When I was at the St. Louis Artists' Guild with the Weavers' Guild show there was a framed print on the wall from one of the STL members. Since I upcycle vintage slips it really caught my attention. You can see the print if you click on Amy's name, it's the first one on the left in gallery 3. This is a life size print as the artist, Amy Firestone Rosen, uses vintage corsets, slips, and other garments to run through a large printing press. She inks the actual garment and runs it right through. The framed piece on the wall was not something to easily ship because of it's size but Amy was in house so she showed me her work space and all the prints she had in store and I got to choose one I could bring home on a plane. I had it framed and it's hanging in my studio. I love her work!

Altered Couture Magazine

I am primarily a fiber artist: a weaver, a dyer of cloth, creator of altered cloth books and art, and a designer of garments and accessories. I have a studio in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California where I immerse myself in projects and gaze out over the hills to the Monterey Bay. I write a little poetry from time to time and songs too. I have a great family, two sons, a husband, and joint custody of 2 cats, Moo and Ducky.